Ardfern for Argyll

Thoughts on a journey to a foreign land.

This was the fifteenth year of Britain’s largest exhibition of bespoke, designer made furniture. Over the years it has built a reputation of excellence among clients and makers alike. To be invited to offer work for inclusion – and you have to be invited – means it’s considered your work is of a quality suitable to stand alongside some of the best designer/makers in the world. That’s good for the ego.

You can imagine, I was keen to go. I’d been invited for the ’07 event, but one has to have something to exhibit. The sole maker from Scotland who went came back with sales and orders that would have kept me going for a year. That experience persuaded three of us, all members of the Scottish Furniture makers Association (www.scottishfurnituremakers.org.uk) to make the journey this year.

It’s a long way, Cheltenham, and a different world. The streets weren’t paved with gold, but the people seemed to be plated with it. Thirlestaine Long Gallery, Cheltenham College, was the venue. I was interested to see the place. The daughter of a friend of mine was a student there and that gave me a sort of connection. She’s now a well known and successful TV personality. I don’t know her. Like a miniature Buckingham Palace, the Gallery is an impressive building outside and in. Yet for me its grandeur was tarnished by its timeworn exterior and equally grand, though rather grubby interior. It is a school hall mind you, so perhaps that’s to be expected.

The invitation only preview evening was packed solid with people enjoying each other’s company and the complimentary wine. Sales were made, but not by us, and there were some smiles but more glum faces at the end of the evening.

I stayed for the first weekend. Had SFMA’s Edinburgh exhibitions been as quiet as that first weekend in Cheltenham, we’d have been worried. It was quiet. The rest of the show can not have been any better. It was all still there at the end. Luckily my colleague had a van big enough for the both of us, so I only needed to drive to Helensburgh to retrieve my masterpieces.

So there we have it. On the plus side my work was well admired, I met many potential clients and not one of them said wistfully, ‘When I win the lottery’. I met several ‘famous name’ makers and they said nice things too, which always makes one feel good. On the other hand, I sold not a thing – and neither did any of the Scottish contingent. I’d show you pictures of the exhibition, but we weren’t allowed to take any – even the makers, of our own stuff. No video either - sorry Dave.

It must have been the credit crunch and falling house prices. That’s all I can think. I returned home from my journey to the deep south older, wiser and considerably poorer – and mindful of my father’s words from days long ago, ‘Tha’ wants to tek care wi’ them southern folk. The’s plenty of ‘em that’s all fur coat and no knickers.’

So that was Cheltenham CCD08. Tony Gill